The Waverley novels, by Sir Walter Scott, complete in 12 vol., printed from the latest English ed., embracing the author's last corrections, prefaces & notes.

PEVEIRIL OF THE PEAK. 481
"In what, then, consists their safety?" said Peveril, willing to ascertain,
if possible, the drift of his companion's purpose.
"In following the counsels of wise physicians;" such was the stranger's
answj er.
"Ancd as such," said Peveril, "you offer me your advice?"
"Pardon me, young man," said the stranger, haughtily, " I see no reason
I should do so. —I am not," he added, in his former tone, "your fee'd
physician.-I offer no advice-I only say it would be wise that you sought it."," And from whom, or Nwhere, can I obtain it?" said Peveril. " I wander
in this country, like one in a dream; so much a few months have changed
it. Men who formerly occupied themselves with their own affairs, are now
swallowed up in matters of state policy; and those tremble under the apprehension of some strange and sudden convulsion of empire, who w ere formerly
only occupied by the fear of going to bed supperiess. And to sum up the
matter, I meet a stranger, apparently well acquainted with my name and
concerns, who first attaches himself to me, whether I will or no; and then
refuses me an explanation of his business, while he menaces me with the
strangest accusations."
" Had I meant such infamy," said the stranger, " believe me, I had not
given you the thread of my intrigue. But be wise, and come on with me.
There is, hard by, a small inn, where, if you can take a stranger's warrant
for it, we shall sleep in perfect security."
"Yet you yourself," said Peveril, "but now were anxious to avoid
observation; and in that case, how can you protect me?"
" Pshaw! I did but silence that tattling landlady, in the way in which
such people are most readily hushed; and for Topham, and his brace of
night owls, they must hawk at other and lesser game than I should
prove."
Peveril could not help admiring the easy and confident indifference with
which the stranger seemed to assume a superiority to all the circumstances
of danger around him; and after hastily considering the matter with hinmself, catne to the resolution to keep company with him for this night, at
least; and to learn, if possible, who he really was, and to what party in the
estate he was attached. The boldness and freedom of his talk seemed
almost inconsistent with his following the perilous, though at that time the
gainful trade of an informer. No doubt, such persons assumed every
appearance which could insinuate thelm into the confidence of their destined.victims; but Julian thought he discovered in this man's manner, a wild and
reckless frankness, which he could not but connect with the idea of sincerity
in the present case. Ile therefore answered, after a moment's recollection,
"I embrace your proposal, sir; although, by doing so, I am reposing a
sudden, and perhaps an unwary, confidence."
"And what am I, then, reposing in you?"' said the stranger. " Is not
our confidence mutual?"
" No; much the contrary. I know nothing of you whatever-you have
named me; and, knowing me to be Julian Peveril, know you may travel
with me in perfect security."
"The devil I do!" answered his companion. "I travel in the same security as with a lighted petard, which I may expect to explode every moment.
Are you not the son of Peveril of the Peak, with whose name Prelacy and
Popery are so closely allied, that no old woman of either sex in Derbyshire
concludes her prayer without a petition to be freed from all three? kAnd do
you not come fromr the Popish Countess of Derby, bringing, for aught I
know, a whole army of Manxmen in your pocket, with full complement of
arms, ammunition, baggage, and a train of field artillery?"
"It is not very likely I should be so poorly mounted," said Julian, laughing, " if I had such a weight to carry. But lead on, sir. I see I must wait
for your confidence, till you think proper to confer it; for you are already
VoL. ~II,-31 2 q